How cookies are used by Directgov

Like many websites, Directgov places small data files known as cookies on your computer. This page explains what cookies are used by Directgov.

What are cookies?

Cookies are small files that websites save to your computer. They’re here to make the site work better for you, and to help Directgov understand how people use the website.

These cookies aren’t used to identify you personally but they can remember activities and preferences chosen by you and your browser. You can manage cookies by controlling which cookies are saved or by deleting them, if you wish.

This page has information about the cookies used on Directgov. For an overview of how cookies are used on government websites, follow the link below.

How government websites use cookies

Cookies for measuring the use of Directgov (analytics)

This list is being frequently updated as Directgov gathers more information from companies and government departments it works with.

By understanding how people use the website, Directgov can improve the information provided. This also ensures that the service is available when you want it and fast.

Directgov use a number of different methods of gathering this data, including services provided by the following companies.

Speed Trap

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
usy46gabsosd	This cookie collects information on which pages are viewed during this visit.	When you close the browser.
directgovCSAuvt, jobseekerscsauvt, dwpcsauvt	These cookies record information about the first and last times you visited the website and the total number of visits you have made.	1 year.
directgovCSADBID, jobseekerscsaDBID, dwpcsaDBID	These cookies enable the website to record unique visitors.	1 year.

Keynote cookie

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
R2PROD%5FSESSIONID	This cookie makes sure you don't receive an invite to a site survey more than once.	When you close the browser.

Google Analytics

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
__utma	This cookie is used to determine unique visitors to our site.	2 years.
__utmb, __utmc	These cookies work together to calculate the average length of time users spend on our site.	__utmb 30 minutes, __utmc when you close the browser.
__utmz	This cookie records information about how the page was reached (for example via a search engine result or a direct link).	6 months.
__utmmobile	This cookie is used to determine unique visitors to our site.	2 years.

Google Analytics is an analytics product that Directgov uses to do things such as keep track of the number of visitors to the site and the length of their stay.

The metrics obtained through the use of first-party Google Analytics cookies do not include any information that would allow Directgov to personally identify visitors to the website; the data is anonymous. The anonymised data that is collected is stored on Google's servers.

The Google Analytics data sharing policy offers Directgov the option to share analytics data either 'Anonymously with Google and others' or with 'Google products only'. UK government websites that use Google Analytics have been advised not to select either of these options. Directgov has chosen not to share the analytics data in either of these ways.

Full details on the cookies set by Google Analytics are published on the Google website. Google also publishes a browser add-on to allow you to choose that information about your website visit is not sent to Google Analytics.

Third party advertising cookies on Directgov

Where government uses advertising, it is responsible for making sure that money is spent effectively. Cookies can help do this by measuring which adverts work best.

Cookies can also help target adverts. For example, if someone visits a government site to apply for a passport, it is likely that they are thinking of travelling abroad. A cookie would help government target travel-advice messages at them.

In all cases this information is strictly anonymous; no-one can be identified personally. And this type of 'behavioural' targeting is never used in sensitive areas such as campaigns around health issues or drugs advice.

The following cookies are used on pages which are being marketed:

Doubleclick

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
id (doubleclick.net)	Saves information on how you reach and interact with a page. The cookies can also control the display and selection of adverts on the site you came from. For example, if you've already visited a page, you may be less likely to see an advert for it.	2 years.

Group M

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
id, OAX, mdata (mookie1.com)	Saves information on how you reach and interact with a page. The cookies can also control the display and selection of adverts on the site you came from. For example, if you've already visited a page, you may be less likely to see an advert for it.	13 months.

Cookies to make functions on the Directgov site work

These cookies control how the website works, perhaps by remembering your choices and preferences or checking what your browser is able to do.

Site customisation

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
style	This cookie allows the site to remember the text size you've set.	When you close the browser.

Online forms

These cookies allow your selections or preferences that you’ve already made to be remembered when you're completing a form.

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
testcookie	This cookie helps us to test the service is working, it doesn't store any information.	When you close the browser.
NSC_qspe-dtnq-wjq-ttm	This cookie allows you to complete the form without re-entering information you've already given.	When you close the browser.
PHPSESSID	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you've already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.

Cookies for using personalised answer tools

These cookies allow your selections or preferences to be remembered in personalised tools such as the redundancy pay calculator (XXX in the cookie name represents the first three letters of the tool, red = redundancy calculator, mat = maternity planner, etc.).

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
KillIDXXX	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you've already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.

Cookies for using Local Directgov services - local.direct.gov.uk

When you put in your location to find a local council service (eg 'pay your council tax'), Local Directgov needs a cookie to work.

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
JSESSIONID	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you've already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.

Cookies for using Directgov Innovate website - innovate.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
has_js	This cookie records whether your browser has JavaScript enabled.	When you close the browser.

Cookies placed by other Directgov websites

Government services run by departments and agencies which use a Directgov address (URL) sometimes use their own cookies. These include the following:

Act on CO2 - carboncalculator.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
ASP.NET_SessionId	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you’ve already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.

Benefits adviser - direct.gov.uk/benefitsadviser

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
Arrowpoint; Portal OSSO; Oracle Access Manager; Oracle HTTP Server	These cookies help site navigation, user authentication and service availability.	When you leave the website.

Car fuel data, CO2 and vehicle tax tools - carfueldata.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
ASP.NET_SessionId	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you’ve already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.

Court finder - hmctscourtfinder.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
JSESSIONID	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you’ve already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.

Driving licenses – online services

For cookie information, see: http://www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/privacy/DLO%20privacy.aspx?ext=dg

Driving tests (practical and theory) - driverpracticaltest.direct.gov.uk or theorytest.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
JSESSIONID	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you’ve already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.
wt_id, WT_FPC and ACOOKIE	These are analytics cookies which collect information about how people use this site.	wt_id - 1 year; WT_FPC, ACOOKIE - 10 years.
VUE_LOCALE	Stores your choice of language (English or Welsh).	1 year.

Email DVLA - emaildvla.direct.gov.uk

Name: ARTP. For cookie information, see: https://emaildvla.direct.gov.uk/emaildvla/cegemail/directgov/en/privacy_policy.html

Energy Performance Certificates adviser - epcadviser.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
JSESSIONID	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you’ve already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.
site-text-size	This cookie allows the site to remember the text size you've set.	When you close the browser.

Find Community Payback schemes near you - localcrime.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
PHPSESSID	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you've already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.

Find your nearest driving instructor - finddrivinginstructor.direct.gov.uk

Name: org.springframework, JSESSIONID. For cookie information, see: http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/cookies

Find your nearest services (IPS office, IPS Customer Service Centre and local register office) - maps.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
JSESSIONID	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you've already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.

Find your pension centre - pensions-service.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
ASP.NET_SessionId	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you've already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.

Jobcentre Plus local office search - los.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
asp.net_sessionid	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you've already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.

Jobseeker's Allowance - direct.gov.uk/jsaonline

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
Arrowpoint; Portal OSSO; Oracle Access Manager; Oracle HTTP Server	These cookies help site navigation, user authentication and service availability	When you leave the website.

National Citizen Service - nationalcitizenservice.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
exp_tracker	This cookie stores information from the last 5 pages viewed. It allows the service to remember information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.
exp_last_visit	This cookie stores the date of your last visit. It can be shown as a statistic for members and used by the forum to show unread topics for both members and guests.	1 year.
exp_last_activity	This cookie records the time the last page was viewed. It is used in conjunction with the exp_last_visit cookie.	1 year.

Pensions Service

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
ASPSESSIONIDCQBDARRD	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you've already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.

Personalised numberplates - dvlaregistrations.direct.gov.uk

Name: PHPSESSID, lastvisit, original_dvid. For cookie information, see: http://www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/privacy/RegistrationCookies.aspx

Public consultations - consultations.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
JSESSIONID	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you've already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.

Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service - qavs.direct.gov.uk

Name: _qavs_session, TS. For cookie information, see: https://qavs.direct.gov.uk/cookies

Schools and children centre finder - schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
CFID	This is a randomly generated number that identifies your browser.	When you close the browser.
CFTOKEN	This is a randomly generated number that identifies your browser.	When you close the browser.

Sharp - sharp.direct.gov.uk

Name: SESS. For cookie information, see: http://www.dft.gov.uk/site/terms/privacy-and-cookie

State Pension Age Calculator - pensions-service.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
genderCookie, dayCookie, monthCookie, yearCookie	These cookies help remember your settings if you return to the form.	When you close the browser.

Student finance online services - studentfinance.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
JSESSIONID	This is a randomly generated number that identifies your browser.	When you close the browser.
last_request	A timestamp. It helps the service to work by tracking last visit to ‘my account’ screen.	When you close the browser.
OHS-secure.studentfinance.direct.gov.uk	Randomly generated key. Tracking of secure authentication status.	When you close the browser.
Oracle-ECID	This cookie contains a unique number that identifies your session. It is used by the service to help in fault diagnosis.	When you close the browser.
ORACLE_SMP_CHRONOS_GL, ORACLE_SMP_CHRONOS_LT, ORACLE_SMP_CHRONOS_ST	These cookies help track users through a session to improve performance.	When you close the browser.
orasso	This cookie indicates that you have logged on to one of the sites covered by the Single Sign-On policy. If you subesquently access another site covered by the policy you do not have to log on again.	When you close the browser.
portal	This cookie is used to record which parts of the website you have visited.	When you close the browser.

Tales of the Road - sharp.direct.gov.uk

Name: SESS. For cookie information, see: http://www.dft.gov.uk/site/terms/privacy-and-cookie

Tax Disc applications - taxdisc.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
session	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you've already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.

Think! - think.direct.gov.uk

Name: usy46gabsosd. For cookie information, see: http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/cookies/

Unistats - unistats.direct.gov.uk

Name: AnonymousUserId, __RequestVerificationToken_Lw__, ASP.NET_SessionId, .ASPXAUTH, Unistats.Cookies, Google Analytics cookies

For cookie information, see: http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/cookies/

Volunteering search - volunteering.direct.gov.uk

Name: PHPSESSID, DCT-Legacy, usy46gabsosd. For cookie information, see: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/terms

Your future wallet - betterfuture.direct.gov.uk

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
JSESSIONID	This cookie allows the service to remember selections and preferences that you've already made or information that you've already given.	When you close the browser.

Cookies on Directgov’s YouTube channel

We embed videos from Directgov’s YouTube channel in some of our pages. YouTube sets some or all of the following cookies:

Cookie name	Purpose	Expires
_use_hitbox	This is a randomly generated number that identifies your browser.	When you close the browser.
ACTIVITY	This is a randomly generated number that identifies your browser.	When you close the browser.
recently_watched_video_id_list	This is a randomly generated number that identifies your browser.	When you close the browser.
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE	This is a randomly generated number that identifies your browser.	About 9 months.
PREF	Set by Youtube to store your preferences relating to Youtube videos embedded in Directgov pages, such as the version of Flash that your browser uses.	10 years.